North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El is a Conservative Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on a 6.5-acre (2.6 ha) campus overlooking Lake Michigan at 1175 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.
Beth El was founded in 1946 following a series of parlor meetings in Glencoe, Illinois, initiated by Benjamin and Gertrude Harris. The synagogue was incorporated as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation in July 1947[1][a] with Arnold P. Natenberg as its first president.
Building
Beth El acquired its permanent home in 1948, a lavish "showcase" private residential mansion constructed in 1911 by Edward Valentine Price, a wealthy wholesale men's clothing manufacturer and owner of Ed. V. Price and Co. in Chicago. The Price mansion was designed by architect Ernest Mayo.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/PriceMansionc1953.jpg/220px-PriceMansionc1953.jpg)
The Price mansion today houses the synagogue's library, the Beit Midrash (small sanctuary), educational offices, and classrooms. In 1953 a school building designed by architect Isadore H. Braun was constructed adjacent to the Price mansion, and in 1956 a large auditorium with catering facilities and a youth lounge was added.
A sanctuary, designed by acclaimed architect Percival Goodman, commenced in 1962 and was dedicated in 1964. Referred to as "a jeweled crown" because of its circular shape and decoration, the fine and distinctive building, has been overshadowed by its near-contemporary neighbor, the North Shore Congregation Israel by Minoru Yamasaki. However, Beth El ranks among the best designed and best preserved synagogues of the 1960s. The sanctuary is essentially a round drum flanked by a low sweeping entryway, around which is wrapped a sprawling complex. The drum appears to be made of pre-fabricated concrete slabs joined together. With unusual window shapes, Goodman has used color to highlight the sanctuary's features and the curved walls open into the social hall. In addition to its architecture, it houses an impressive ark, menorah and other metalwork by Ludwig Wolpert.[4]
An administrative wing and an extension of the school building, both designed by architects Bernheim & Kahn, were added to the synagogue in 1989.[3]
Congregation
Beth El grew from twenty-five family members at the time of its founding to over 1000 families in 2022. It currently operates an award winning pre-school, a large supplemental religious school and, in cooperation with other Conservative synagogues in the area, a Hebrew High School program. A robust continuing education program, a 20,000 volume library (accredited by the Association of Jewish Libraries), and a diverse museum collection that encompasses paintings, sculptures, prints, rare books and Judaic ritual objects from around the world, all contribute to create a strong Jewish educational experience for the community.[5]
Clergy
Rabbinical leaders
Beth El's first rabbi was Maurice I. Kliers, who served from 1948 to 1950, when he left to join South Side Hebrew Congregation in Chicago. Philip L. Lipis, a US Navy chaplain during World War II, joined Beth El in 1951. Rabbi Lipis oversaw the rapid growth in membership and the physical expansion of the synagogue's facilities. He was instrumental in strengthening the educational aspects of the congregation, particularly the youth and adult education programming. Rabbi Lipis retired in 1969 and moved to California, where he taught at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University).[3]
Samuel H. Dresner became senior rabbi at Beth El in 1969. A leading scholar and author within the Conservative movement, he drew hundreds of congregants to Shabbat morning services to hear him preach. Dedicated to strengthening religious practice, Rabbi Dresner also took steps to enhance the role of women in religious services. In 1977 Dresner left the synagogue following a contentious internal struggle over his continuation as senior rabbi. That year he became the founding rabbi of Moriah Congregation in Deerfield, Illinois.[3]
William H. Lebeau succeeded Rabbi Dresner in 1978. Rabbi Lebeau was a rising star in the Conservative movement who impressed the congregation with his warmth and vision for the development of the synagogue's educational programming and facilities. He left Beth El in 1987 to serve as Vice-Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and dean of its rabbinical school.[3]
Vernon H. Kurtz was installed as senior rabbi of Beth El in 1988 and served in that role until his retirement in 2018 when he moved to Israel. Rabbi Kurtz was a serious proponent of Conservative Judaism and of the State of Israel, serving in top leadership positions in numerous local, national and international Jewish organizations throughout his tenure at the congregation and establishing himself as a well-known and influential leader in the American Jewish community.[3]
Michael Schwab began his rabbinic career at Beth El in 2004 as assistant rabbi of the congregation and was named Senior Rabbi in 2019. He has brought to Beth El a strong sense of community, a deep love for Israel, an unbridled enthusiasm for serving others, and an uplifting sense of joy in teaching and practicing Jewish traditions. Rabbi Schwab occupies the Vernon H. Kurtz Senior Rabbinic Chair. The current associate rabbi is Alex Freedman.[5]
Cantors
Throughout its history, Beth El has striven to enhance its religious services with talented hazzanim (cantors). Among these were Cantor Jordan Cohen (1953-1969), Cantor Reuven Frankel (1970-1979), Hazzan Henry Rosenblum (1987-1998), Hazzan Larry B. Goller (1998-2015) and Hazzan Benjamin A. Tisser (2015-2021). The current cantor is Hazzan Jacob Sandler, a 2021 graduate of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary.[5]
Notes
- ^ Although CauseIQ states it was founded in 1994.[2]
References
- ^ Liebenson, Donald (February 25, 2019). "North Suburban Synagogue Beth El's story 70 years in the making". Jeiwsh Chicago. Jewish United Fund. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "North Suburban Synagogue Beth El (EIN 36-2229590)". CauseIQ. Nonprofit Metrics LLC. 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Steinberg, Morton M. (February 27, 2024). Tradition by the lake : a historical outline of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. ISBN 978-1-9746-9561-4. OCLC 1078689893.
- ^ Gruber, Samuel (July 12, 2016). "USA: North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, a Percival Goodman Designed "Jeweled Crown" in Highland Park, Illinois". Samuel Gruber's Jewish Art & Monuments. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "North Suburban Synagogue Beth El". November 9, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2022.[self-published source?]
External links
- Official website
- "Northern Suburban Synagogue Beth El" (Interactive 360-degree panoramic photos). Synagogues360. 2024.
- v
- t
- e
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Star_of_David.svg/15px-Star_of_David.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png)
- Beth-El (Anniston)
- Knesseth Israel (Birmingham)
- Beth-El (Birmingham)
- Emanu-El (Birmingham)
- B'nai Sholom (Huntsville)
- Sha’arai Shomayim (Mobile)
- Agudath Israel Etz Ahayem (Montgomery)
- Beth Or (Montgomery)
- Beth Israel (Scottsdale)
- Emanuel (Tempe)
- Kol Ami (Tucson)
- Beth HaMedrosh Hagodol-Beth Joseph (Denver)
- Temple Emanuel (Denver)
- Temple Sinai (Denver)
- Temple Emanuel (Pueblo)
- Temple Aaron (Trinidad)
- B'nai Israel (Bridgeport)
- Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek (Chester)
- Knesseth Israel (Ellington)
- Ahavath Achim (Fairfield)
- Mishkan Israel (Hamden)
- Beth Israel (Hartford West)
- Tephereth Israel (New Britain)
- Beth Israel (New Haven)
- Agudath Sholom (Stamford)
- Israel (Westport)
- B'nai Jacob (Woodbridge)
- Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont
- Adas Israel
- Bet Mishpachah
- DC Minyan
- Kesher Israeln
- Machar
- Ohev Sholom
- Rosh Pina
- Sixth & I
- Washington Hebrew
- Ahavath Chesed (Jacksonville)
- Bet Shira (Miami)
- Edmond J. Safra (Miami)
- Beth Sholom (Miami Beach)
- Cuban Hebrew (Miami Beach)
- Emanu-El (Palm Beach)
- New (Palm Beach)
- Beth-El (Pensacola)
- Beth Jacob (Atlanta)
- Shearith Israel (Atlanta)
- Temple (Atlanta)
- B'nai Israel (Augusta)
- Beth Israel (Macon)
- B'nai Torah (Sandy Springs)
- Mickve Israel (Savannah)
- Aloha Jewish Chapel (Pearl Harbor)
- Emanu-El (Honolulu)
- Ahavath Beth Israel (Boise)
Chicago | |
---|---|
- B'nai Israel (Council Bluffs)
- Beit Shalom (Davenport)
- United Orthodox (Sioux City)
- Adath Israel Brith Sholom (Louisville)
- Anshei Sfard (Louisville)
- Keneseth Israel (Louisville)
- Adath Israel (Owensboro)
- Israel (Paducah)
- B'nai Israel (Alexandria)
- Gemiluth Chassodim (Alexandria)
- Anshe Sfard (New Orleans)
- Beth Israel (New Orleans)
- Sinai (New Orleans)
- Touro (New Orleans)
- B'Nai Zion (Shreveport)
- Beth Israel (Bangor)
- Etz Chaim (Portland)
- Shaarey Tphiloh (Portland)
- Naval Academy (Annapolis)
- B'nai Israel (Baltimore)
- Hebrew (Baltimore)
- Beth Am (Baltimore)
- Shearith Israel (Baltimore)
- Shomrei Emunah (Baltimore)
- Tiferes Yisroel (Baltimore)
- Beth El (Bethesda)
- Bethesda Jewish Congregation (Bethesda)
- Beth Shalom (Columbia)
- B'er Chayim (Cumberland)
- B'Nai Israel (Easton)
- Beth Sholom (Frederick)
- Kol Ami (Frederick)
- Emanuel (Kensington)
- Oseh Shalom (Laurel)
- Magen David Sephardic (North Bethesda)
- Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah (Olney)
- Beth El (Pikesville)
- Beth Tfiloh (Pikesville)
- Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom (Pikesville)
- Beth Sholom and Talmud Torah (Potomac)
- Beth Israel (Salisbury)
- Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Silver Spring)
- B'nai Israel (Rockville)
- Temple Israel (Boston)
- Ohabei Shalom (Brookline)
- Kahal B'raira (Cambridge)
- Agudath Shalom (Chelsea)
- Beth Israel (Malden)
- Adams Street (Newton)
- Shaarei Tefillah (Newton)
- Beth Israel (North Adams)
- Beth Israel (Onset)
- Anshe Amunim (Pittsfield)
- Sinai Temple (Springfield)
- Ahavath Torah (Stoughton)
- Beth Israel (Worcester)
- Emanuel Sinai (Worcester)
- Beth El (Alpena)
- Beth Emeth (Ann Arbor)
- Beth Israel (Ann Arbor)
- Beth El (Detroit)
- Birmingham Temple (Detroit)
- Isaac Agree Downtown (Detroit)
- Temple Emanuel (Grand Rapids)
- Temple Jacob (Hancock)
- Beth Sholom (Marquette)
- Beth Israel (Jackson)
- Temple Israel (West Bloomfield)
- Beth Jacob (Mendota Heights)
- Temple Israel (Minneapolis)
- Adath Jeshurun (Minnetonka)
- Beth El (St Louis Park)
- Mount Zion (St Paul)
- Or Emet (St Paul)
- Adath Israel (Cleveland)
- Beth Israel (Jackson)
- Beth Israel (Meridian)
- B'nai Israel (Tupelo)
- United Hebrew (Chesterfield)
- B'nai Amoona (Creve Coeur)
- Shaare Emeth (Creve Coeur)
- Temple Israel (Creve Coeur)
- Beth El (Jefferson City)
- Beth Sholom (Cherry Hill)
- Kol Ami (Cherry Hill)
- Synagogue of Deal (Deal)
- Beth Hillel (Deerville)
- Ahavath Torah (Englewood)
- Barnert (Franklin Lakes)
- Agudath Achim (Freehold)
- Etz Ahaim Sephardic (Highland Park)
- United Synagogue of Hoboken
- Beth-El (Jersey City)
- Adas Emuno (Leonia)
- B'Nai Abraham (Livingston)
- Shaari Emeth (Manalapan)
- Marlboro Jewish Center (Marlboro)
- B'nai Israel (Millburn)
- Beth Hillel Beth Abraham (Millville)
- Morristown Jewish Center (Morristown)
- Beth Israel (Ridgewood)
- Rosenhayn Synagogue (Rosenhayn)
- Oheb Shalom (South Orange)
- Beth El (Voorhees)
- Albert (Albuquerque)
- B'nai Israel (Albuquerque)
- Beth Israel (Asheville)
- Temple Israel (Charlotte)
- Temple Israel (Kinston)
- Emanuel (Statesville)
- Temple of Israel (Wilmington)
- Tifereth-Israel (Beachwood)
- Agudas Achim (Bexley)
- Golf Manor (Cincinnati)
- Rockdale (Cincinnati)
- Wise Temple (Cincinnati)
- Anshe Chesed Fairmount (Cleveland)
- Oheb Zedek Cedar Sinai (Cleveland)
- Park Synagogue (Cleveland)
- Silver Sanctuary (Cleveland)
- Temple Israel (Columbus)
- Temple Israel (Dayton)
- Beth Israel (Hamilton)
- B'nai Israel (Toledo)
- B'nai Israel (Oklahoma City)
- Temple Israel (Tulsa)
- Beth Israel (Eugene)
- Beth Israel (Portland)
- Neveh Shalom (Portland)
- Shaarie Torah (Portland)
Philadelphia | |
---|---|
|
- Touro (Newport)
- Beth-El (Providence)
- Sons of Jacob (Providence)
- Beth Israel (Beaufort)
- Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston)
- House of Peace (Columbia)
- Beth Israel (Florence)
- Beth Elohim (Georgetown)
- Kol Ami (Fort Mill)
- Sinai (Sumter)
- Adas Israel (Brownsville)
- Mizpah (Chattanooga)
- B'nai Israel (Jackson)
- Baron Hirsch (Memphis)
- Israel (Memphis)
- Ohabai Sholom (Nashville)
- Sherith Israel (Nashville)
- Agudas Achim (Austin)
- Beth Israel (Austin)
- Emanuel (Beaumont)
- B'nai Abraham (Brenham)
- Emanu-El (Dallas)
- Beth Jacob (Galveston)
- B'nai Israel (Galveston)
- Beth Israel (Houston)
- Beth Yeshurun (Houston)
- Sinai (Houston)
- Beth-El (San Antonio)
- B'rith Sholem (Ogden)
- Kol Ami (Salt Lake City)
- Agudas Achim (Alexandria)
- Beth El (Alexandria)
- Beth Israel (Charlottesville)
- Rodef Shalom (Falls Church)
- Sinai (Newport News)
- Commodore Levy Chapel (Norfolk)
- Beth Ahabah (Richmond)
- Kol Emes (Richmond)
- Beth Israel (Roanoke)
- Adath Israel (Rutland)
- House of Israel (Staunton)
- Beth El (Winchester)
- Ohev Sholom (Huntington)
- Shalom (Wheeling)
- Beth El (Madison)
- Beth Israel Ner Tamid (Milwaukee)
- Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun (River Hills)
- Oldest U.S. synagogues
- History
- Category
- People
- US places of worship